New Ministerial Responsibilities for WA Cabinet

Following the recent resignations of Tony McRae and John Bowler, Premier Alan Carpenter announced the re-allocation of Ministerial responsibilities within his Cabinet.

South Metropolitan Upper House member Sue Ellery was elected unopposed to the Cabinet by the Labor Caucus yesterday. She will administer the portfolios of Child Protection; Communities; Seniors and Volunteering; Women’s Interests.

Ms Ellery has held the position of Parliamentary Secretary of Health; Attorney General and Electoral Affairs since 2003. She previously held the roles of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors; Culture and the Arts; Disability Services in 2004 and 2005.

Prior to entering politics in 2001, Ms Ellery worked as an industrial adviser at the Miscellaneous Workers Union.

Key changes to the Cabinet include:

David Templeman will assume the portfolios of Environment and Climate Change; Peel.

Michelle Roberts will take on responsibility for Employment Protection.

Sheila McHale will retain the portfolios of Tourism, Culture and the Arts; Consumer Protection. She has also been allocated the portfolio of Disability Services, which she previously held from 2001 to 2005.

Ljiljanna Ravlich will assume responsibility for Local Government, Racing and Gaming; Goldfields-Esperance Region, as well as her current portfolios including Government Enterprises.

Kim Chance will take on the additional portfolio area of Great Southern Region, in addition to his current portfolios of Agriculture and Food; Forestry; the Mid West and Wheatbelt.